The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
on May 29, 2020, Updated Jul 03, 2024
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This is the best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe! Made creamy and extra cheesy with two types of cheese and super fast with just a 5-minute cook time. It’s such a simple, cozy comfort food that anyone can make with no-fuss ingredients and barely any time! These other recipes are also worth trying with your instant pot:
You can’t beat mac and cheese, but mac and cheese that only takes 4 minutes to cook? I think that’s worth ditching the old box and going homemade! Plus, there’s really no match for the flavors of freshly melted cheddar and parmesan cheese. It’s making me hungry just writing about it! This is my family’s favorite mac and cheese because it’s simple, cozy, extra-cheesy and creamy, and it’s just about the easiest mac and cheese to make.
The Instant Pot is wonderful, isn’t it? It speeds up just about any dish without sacrificing flavor or texture. I love turning to this recipe when we just want a simple comfort meal, don’t want to spend a ton of time prepping and cooking, and don’t have a bunch of groceries on hand. It’s a GREAT end-of-the-week, we-made-it-to-the-weekend meal, if I do say so myself!
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Why Make Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot?
Forget the pot, lid, and colander necessary to make regular mac and cheese! Instant Pot mac and cheese is a one-pot meal (no draining required) that comes together way more quickly than the stovetop version! Just add the ingredients to the pot, turn it on for 4 minutes (yes, 4!), and add the cheese and some extra flavors after it’s done. Voila! Mac and cheese in no time.
Ingredients:
- Elbow macaroni: Elbow noodles are the classic macaroni shape!
- Chicken broth: Chicken broth is what cooks the noodles down and absorbs extra flavor into them
- Butter: Butter adds a necessary richness and creaminess.
- Garlic powder, salt & pepper: These seasonings add a kick of flavor!
- Cream: Cream’s added after the noodles cook, along with egg, to thicken and add more creaminess to the dish.
- Egg: The egg thickens the noodles to they aren’t runny.
- Mustard powder: Mustard powder isn’t necessary, but it adds the nicest color and you can’t taste it at all!
- Cheddar and parmesan cheese: I love using these two cheeses, but feel free to play with whatever cheese you love!
See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Tips for the Best Mac and Cheese:
- Use an 8-quart Instant Pot if you can. If you use a 6-quart, make sure to adjust your cook time to 5 minutes instead of 4.
- Cream is the best texture. If you only have milk, you can use it in the recipe, but cream creates the silkiest texture.
- Mustard powder is optional but recommended. You don’t need it, but it adds the nicest color and you can’t taste it!
Frequently Asked Questions:
I prefer a high-quality sharp cheddar cheese plus a bit of parmesan to balance it out! However, you can play with really any types of cheese that you love!
I recommend using macaroni elbows because they’re just classic and hold onto the cheese so well! You can also use any other small noodles like penne, shells, or orecchiette.
Leftover mac and cheese is just as good as the fresh stuff, if you ask me! Store the cooled noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or the freezer for up to 4 months. To reheat, let frozen noodles thaw in the fridge overnight. Place thawed mac and cheese in a pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through, about 10 minutes. If it seems dry, feel free to add a splash of chicken broth or cream (about a tablespoon) to the noodles as you warm them up.
More Instant Pot Recipes to Consider:
Soups, Stews & Chowders
Instant Pot Chicken Soup
Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce
Chicken Recipes
Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Potato Soup
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The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 cups elbow macaroni, (16 ounces)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder, optional but recommended
- 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
- 2 ounces block Parmesan cheese, shredded (scant 1 cup)
- additional cream, for thinning as needed
- additional salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add the macaroni noodles to your Instant Pot insert. Add the broth, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Place lid on the Instant Pot, and set the valve to sealing. Press the pressure cook button, and then select a 4-minute cook time (high pressure).
- While the noodles are cooking, add the cream, egg, and dry mustard to a small bowl, and beat with a fork to combine well. Grate the cheeses and set aside.
- When the pot has finished cooking, do a quick pressure release.
- When you can open the lid, do so carefully. Stir the noodles, add the cream mixture, and stir to combine well.
- Add the cheeses in 3 batches, stirring well and letting the cheese melt after each addition.
- When the cheese is melted adjust the texture if needed with additional cream (I don’t normally need to, but you can add a few tablespoons to thin it out a little).
- Adjust the salt and pepper to taste, and serve right away.
Notes
- I have found that an 8-quart Instant Pot takes a little longer to come to pressure than a 6-quart (it has a larger area to pressurize). If you are using a 6-quart Instant Pot and your noodles aren’t fully done, feel free to add 1 minute to the cook time, so that it’s cooking for 5 minutes instead of 4. The 4 minutes is perfect for an 8-quart.
- You can change up the cheese and play with what you like and prefer. I really like lots of high-quality cheddar and just a little extra Parmesan for balance.
- The mustard powder is optional, but I love using it for mac and cheese. It brightens the noodles in all the right ways and doesn’t taste like mustard when it’s all mixed in.
- You can use milk in this recipe in a pinch, though the cream has the best texture. It also works with canned milk.
Wow, this was great. Loved it. Thanks!
I’ve never made mac and cheese in an instant pot before and I’m nervous. I’d rather not dirty a mixer and an extra dish dealing with the egg and the cream–Does the egg really help firm up the noodles, even though you add it later? I wouldn’t even be willing to try this, but our cooktop has been out of commission for over 2 months and I miss my mac!
The egg does thicken it, like it would a custard or pudding and adds great texture!
I tried this last night and HAD to share my leftovers! I’m at home by myself a lot since my husband travels for work often, so I love making simple things like this that reheat well. Boy let me tell you, this was so simple and SO yummy! It’s the next day and I’m legit craving it sitting at my desk. I brought some leftovers to a coworker and she loved it as well and asked for the recipe. I will definitely be adding this to my recipe binder!
Woohoo! I love this recipe and I’m so pumped you tried it! Thank you for letting me know!